Research Priorities

The Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee discussed the current process for review and approval of five-year research priorities and the potential for further improvements. In recognition that the MSA mandate on five-year research priorities does not require annual review as the Council has previously done, the SSC recommended that comprehensive review of research priorities be conducted three years. The review would include continuing to develop a “top ten” list of research priorities that are highlighted in order to reflect their relevance to existing Council needs, as well as a thorough vetting of critical ongoing monitoring needs and longer-term strategic research needs. The SSC recognized that the comprehensive review would likely require significant time on the SSC agenda, and so while it could start the review cycle in June 2019, this timing might also need to be adjusted depending on other issues on the SSC’s agenda.